Machine learning for prediction of in-hospital mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 patients: results from an Italian multicenter study.

Background: Several risk factors have been identified to predict worse outcomes in patients affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Machine learning algorithms represent a novel approach to identifying a prediction model with a good discriminatory capacity to be easily used in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to obtain a risk score for in-hospital mortality in patients with coronavirus disease infection (COVID-19) based on a limited number of features collected at hospital admission.

Pediatric Obesity-Related Asthma: The Role of Nutrition and Nutrients in Prevention and Treatment.

Childhood obesity rates have dramatically risen in numerous countries worldwide. Obesity is likely a factor in increased asthma risk, which is already one of the most widespread chronic respiratory pathologies. The pathogenic mechanism of asthma risk has still not yet been fully elucidated.

Adipose Tissue Immunomodulation and Treg/Th17 Imbalance in the Impaired Glucose Metabolism of Children with Obesity.

In the last few decades, obesity has increased dramatically in pediatric patients. Obesity is a chronic disease correlated with systemic inflammation, characterized by the presence of CD4 and CD8 T cell infiltration and modified immune response, which contributes to the development of obesity related diseases and metabolic disorders, including impaired glucose metabolism. In particular, Treg and Th17 cells are dynamically balanced under healthy conditions, but imbalance occurs in inflammatory and pathological states, such as obesity.

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) and Gitelman Syndrome (GS): Overlapping Symptoms in an Uncommon Association.

Background: Classical salt-wasting (SW) congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and Gitelman syndrome (GS) are two genetic conditions in which dyselectrolytemia may occur. No association between the two conditions has been previously described. .

Impact of heart failure on the clinical course and outcomes of patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Results of the Cardio-COVID-Italy multicentre study.

Aims: To assess the prognostic value of a history of heart failure (HF) in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods And Results: We enrolled 692 consecutive patients admitted for COVID-19 in 13 Italian cardiology centres between 1 March and 9 April 2020. Mean age was 67.

Rapid progressive central precocious puberty: diagnostic and predictive value of basal sex hormone levels and pelvic ultrasound.

Objectives Data on the predictive values of parameters included in the diagnostic work-up for precocious puberty (PP) remain limited. We detected the diagnostic value of basal sex hormone levels, pelvic ultrasound parameters and bone age assessment for activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in girls with PP, in order to help in the decision to perform GnRH testing. Patients and methods We retrospectively considered 177 girls with PP.

Gynecomastia after euthyroidism restoration in a patient with type 1 diabetes and Graves' disease.

In patients with autoimmune disease, gynecomastia should not be considered as 1 of the first signs of hyperthyroidism, rather it is a breast pathology that can be present even when euthyroidism restoration is achieved. It is unknown whether the autoimmune nature of thyroid disorders or simply the hyperthyroidism effects breast changes.

Renewed interest for low-dose radiation therapy in follicular lymphomas: From biology to clinical applications.

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common subtype of indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoproliferative disorders. Treatment strategies for FL may include several therapeutic choices, ranging from a "watchful waiting" approach to stem cell transplantation, mostly depending on staging, age, risk factors, and disease burden at diagnosis. The high radiosensitivity of FL compared with other solid tumors has been known since the beginning of radiotherapy treatment in lymphoma patients.

Machine Perfusion at 20°C Prevents Ischemic Injury and Reduces Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α Expression During Rat Liver Preservation.

BACKGROUND Ischemic cholangitis is the main cause of liver failure after transplantation and subnormothermic machine perfusion may represent a better strategy than conventional cold storage, minimizing preservation injury. We compared livers preserved by machine perfusion at 20°C (MP20) or by cold storage at 4°C (CS4) with regard to hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α mRNA expression and protein stabilization in hypoxic conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS Livers from male Wistar rats were stored on ice at 4°C in UW solution (CS4) or perfused with oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit buffer at 20°C (MP20) for six hours.

Novel recurrent chromosome anomalies in Shwachman-Diamond syndrome.

Background: Two chromosome anomalies are frequent in the bone marrow (BM) of patients with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS): an isochromosome of the long arm of chromosome 7, i(7)(q10), and an interstitial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 20, del(20)(q). These anomalies are associated with a lower risk of developing myelodysplasia (MDS) and/or acute myeloid leukemia. The chromosome anomalies may be due to an SDS-specific karyotype instability, reflected also by anomalies that are not clonal, but found in single cells in the BM or in peripheral blood (PB).

MCD diet-induced steatohepatitis is associated with alterations in asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and its transporters.

Using an experimental model of NASH induced by a methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet, we investigated whether changes occur in serum and tissue levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). Male Wistar rats underwent NASH induced by 8-week feeding with an MCD diet. Serum and hepatic biopsies at 2, 4 and 8 weeks were taken, and serum enzymes, ADMA and nitrate/nitrite (NOx), were evaluated.

Cardiac Adaptation to Severe Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.

Objective: Prenatal heart adaptations to congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) could help define postnatal outcome.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed post-mortem tissues from fetuses with severe CDH (n = 7). Histology and immunohistochemical distribution of desmin, muscle actin [HHF35], endothelin-1 [ET-1] and TGF-β were evaluated.

Autologous immuno magnetically selected CD133+ stem cells in the treatment of no-option critical limb ischemia: clinical and contrast enhanced ultrasound assessed results in eight patients.

Objectives: Demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of highly purified CD133+ autologous stem cells in critical limb ischemia (CLI).

Design: Prospective single-center not randomized. Clinicaltrials.

Costimulatory pathways in kidney transplantation: pathogenetic role, clinical significance and new therapeutic opportunities.

Costimulatory pathways play a key role in immunity, providing the second signal required for a full activation of adaptive immune response. Different costimulatory families (CD28, TNF-related, adhesion and TIM molecules), characterized by structural and functional analogies, have been described. Costimulatory molecules modulate T cell activation, B cell function, Ig production, cytokine release and many other processes, including atherosclerosis.

Renal diseases in haemophilic patients: pathogenesis and clinical management.

Haemophilia A and B are genetic X-linked bleeding disorders, caused by mutations in genes encoding factors VIII and IX, respectively. Clinical manifestations of haemophilia are spontaneous haemorrhage or acute bleeding caused by minor trauma, resulting in severe functional consequences that can culminate in a debilitating arthropathy. Life expectancy and quality of life of patients with haemophilia have dramatically improved over the last years, mainly for new therapeutic options and the awareness to the risk of HCV and HIV infections.

Importance of the echocardiographic evaluation of right ventricular function in patients with AL amyloidosis.

Background: Patients with AL amyloidosis often present with signs of congestive heart failure.

Aim: This study was prospectively designed to assess the significance of RV dysfunction in AL amyloidosis.

Methods And Results: Seventy-four patients with biopsy proven AL amyloidosis underwent a thorough echocardiographic evaluation.